Rise and shine with the dawn raid app

In the digital age, anything goes. Which goes some way to explaining the time and effort put into developing a “dawn raid app" by national law firm Clayton Utz.

The first-of-its-kind phone app was launched in the Sydney ivory tower this week. Its aim is to give those in a spot of regulatory bother (think raids by the Federal Police over tax fraud, or interrogation by the Crime Commission over doping allegations) a ­practical, step-by-step guide.

Because everyone is thinking clearly when confronted by sniffer dogs at 5am in their underwear.

The app provides a checklist of “to do" items, ensuring the cops or whoever else is knocking on one’s door comply with the correct procedures and do not exceed the scope of the warrant.

The issue of legal privilege and its waiver during the commission of a raid is an important one, and one that the law is still grappling with.

The app is segmented into helpful sections: what to do when someone first bangs on your door, what is and isn’t permissible and what to do once the regulator leaves the building.

And don’t forget: call your lawyer.

Herbert Smith Freehills have decided to take another punt on cycling, entering into an agreement with cycling great Simon Gerrans.

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Gerrans was the road captain in the 2014 Tour de France for team ORICA-GreenEDGE and last year was even fortunate enough to wear the coveted yellow jersey for two stages.

The firm was left a little red-faced in 2012 after it planned a ride with local hero
Cadel Evans
following his Tour de France win, only to be pushed out by accounting firm EY which claimed it had an exclooooosive agreement with the star. The glory of cycling in the corporate world cannot be overlooked, as the fad takes over and many, unfortunately for onlookers, take to wearing lycra to pedal themselves to and from work.

The ride was planned for the picturesque Macedon Ranges in Victoria in 2012, but alas, it was not to be and instead, the firm was forced to opt for a lunch with Cadel himself.

Clearly a runner-up prize compared to tight suits and fast bikes.

This time around, though, Hearsay is assured the agreement with Gerrans is watertight and there will be no thwarting of said ride.

Naturally, after the contractual biffo, HSF will be taking no prisoners.

It often takes lawyers a little while to catch on, but the same cannot be said for the esteemed University of New South Wales professor Fred Hilmer.

Hilmer, who was speaking at a conference hosted by the university last week, spoke of the perils of corruption when it came to promoting competition and how once trust is lost, things just don’t work the same.

Nothing like a clear example to prove one’s point.

“If I want a coal lease, don’t worry about the technology," Hilmer quipped, tongue in cheek, “find the best place to lunch with the right people."

Touche, except judging by the incredible revelations unearthed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption over the last 10 days, there aren’t many politicians who haven’t taken that advice.

Or the odd brown paper bag.

A firm not into paper bags is top four accounting firm PwC, which is looking to expand its legal cap ability and compete with the top end of town. On Friday PwC announced two new recruits, Tony O’Malley and Tim Blue, both originally from King & Wood Mallesons.

O’Malley was the former Australian managing partner and deputy global until he left suddenly amid leadership tensions. Blue was the head of M&A and Tax.

The firm is competing neck and neck with top-tier law firms, and legal privilege in an important component for restructuring deals or providing tax advice.

PwC knows that only too well after documents between partners and long-standing client mining magnate Gina Rinehart surfaced in a battle between her and her children over a $5 billion trust.

The effect was not pretty; questions were raised around whether tax advice had been massaged slightly to make capital gains liability more certain than in fact it was. Baker & McKenzie also had a good week, taking over the top spot from DLA Piper on the revenue front, becoming the largest in the world this week with turnover up 5 per cent to $US2.54 billion ($2.7 billion).

Equity partners were no doubt rubbing their hands together with glee after taking home just under $US1.3 million ($1.4 million on average each.

Despite being overtaken, DLA isn’t exactly down in the doldrums, with revenue at US $2.48 billion and partners taking home more than their counterparts at Bakers.

And let’s not forget plaintiff law firm Slater & Gordon which this week announced a whopping 47 per cent profit increase, with net profit coming in at $61.1 million.